Any Issues with a Smart Meter from Octopus?

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916981#Comment_81916981

Would that would be allowed if as their are many reports - the Mini genuinely doesn't work if move supplier.

They might push the mini - but I am not sure they can refuse to provide an IHD if thats the users choice.

The problem is of course for more complex tariffs - like say agile or smart charging - the IHD probably doesnt give enough info for users to monitor in detail.

But to be fair I think Ive read the meters cannot even track pricing on things like agile - they just operate like a pseudo single rate price wise iirc a couple of early agile posts from long ago.

But shouldn't their app be able to access DCC data via Octopus servers a day in arrears for that sort of complex analysis anyway ?

It strikes me that no IHD would be a block on moving suppliers - so anti-competition rules - so really shouldn't be allowed.

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916580#Comment_81916580

Yes it does - but not to your app / computer etc - just on the display itself - in real time - but once its updated its gone. Normally c10 sec for electric - 30 min iirc for gas (I'm single fuel so never tested the gas)

Apart from generally the ability to scroll back on daily / weekly / monthly summary data - cached in the meter.

But IHD itself gives no fine resolution history - if say wanted to analyse say a days 48 1/2 hour slots.

But you would need to ask an Octopus customer whether that can be done for past days from the DCC Data gathered by Octopus.

(My supplier EOn NExt only provides app access to 1/2 hr data if on a smart tariff billed half hourly - so I only get daily/weekly history etc on their app - but they now have permission so presumably do now log it)

squirrelpie

Unless anyone knows different I think Octopus only provide an Octopus Mini now, no IHD.

Octopus push their Home Mini, but they are legally required to supply an IHD and keep it working for one year as part of installing a smart meter. So ask for one if you want one.

chrisw

Ask for the IHD to be installed - you can always order the mini afterwards, but not the other way round.

t0rt0ise

If you get a sub-contractor fitter I doubt you'll get the choice. They carry IHDs, I doubt they'd carry the minis too.

Phones4Chris

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916955#Comment_81916955

Well, in a rural area I had an Octopus fitter, so perhaps it depends on the jobs they've got to do at the time and maybe subcontract when they have to.

Pescur

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81916660#Comment_81916660

It is not the accuracy that concerns me, but rather how complicated they are. I have seen two of my neighbours smart meters, one is diabolically hard to understand or work with keyboard. I do not know what brand it is but I don't want one of those. The other neighbour that I have seen has a Toshiba and it seems more intuitive although I still did not understand the display.

If an IHD works or an App connected to the Mini thing then that looks good on paper and most people seem positive about it, so maybe it does not matter, it is the mini that is the draw to Octopus. However, Apps go wrong or stop working for OS support reasons so I just want to be able to get my head around it.

Phones4Chris

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81919030#Comment_81919030

For most of the meters that are fitted, there are usually easily understood instructions on how to read the various registers, a lot can be found on-line. Failing that there are plenty of people on here that could advise on a particular meter, however, the precise model number is needed to give accurate information.

Maybe the supplier for your neighbour with the "diabolically" hard to understand meter has not been giving them helpful support. Give us the make and model number, and the type of tariff they are on, and i'm sure good advice will be forthcoming.

Same for the Toshiba.
Do note that whatever screens you look at, when you stop actively looking and scrolling, the meter will return to a default display, which in a number of cases will involve a cyclic rotation through certain screens of data/information.

bob2302

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81919030#Comment_81919030

I never use the menu myself. I just press any button to display the index once in a while - to sanity check what's on the website and IHD. It's the DCC readings that really matter.

tfhnota

The electric smart meter can be read without touching it, though shining a torch on the LED helps to actually see the reading (there is a backlight that sometimes comes on and probably a key to press to activate it but have never bothered) and the gas has to have a press of the top button to turn the LED on but that is easy to recall once done the first time. Only if you have dual band tariffs for electric might it require some research. Big advantage if you have hard to access meters, can be monitored online (a day behind usually) or in real time on the IHD.

All meters have to have plus or minus three percent accuracy so it is a lottery when the new one is installed whether it will read slightly cheaper or more expensive - worse case it will be six percent more expensive!